Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 14, 2026
06:45
Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal
Published on: April 18, 2017
6.7K
How Power Affects People: Activating, Wanting, and Goal Seeking
Ana Guinote1,2
1Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, London WC1H 0AP, United Kingdom;
Annual Review of Psychology
|October 1, 2016
Summary
Power intensifies goal-driven motivation, energizing thought and action toward goals. It enhances self-expression and confidence but can reduce social attention and perspective-taking abilities.
Area of Science:
- Sociocognitive psychology
- Neuroscience
- Management studies
- Animal behavior research
Background:
- Power significantly influences human feelings, thoughts, and actions.
- Existing research indicates power impacts cognitive and behavioral outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose an integrated framework of power.
- To conceptualize power as an intensifier of goal-related approach motivation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review across multiple disciplines including social psychology, neuroscience, management, and animal research.
- Synthesis of existing studies to form a cohesive theoretical framework.
Main Results:
- Power energizes thought, speech, and action, orienting individuals toward salient goals.
- Power enhances self-expression, confidence, self-regulation, and goal prioritization.
- Power's effects on cognition, performance, corruption, social attention, and perspective-taking were examined.
Conclusions:
- Power acts as a goal-approach intensifier, influencing various psychological and behavioral domains.
- Potential detrimental effects of power on social cognition were identified.
- Inconsistencies in power literature can be explained by viewing power holders as dynamic and flexible.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:27Secondary Motives: Power Motivation and Achievement Motivation
637
Power motivation and achievement motivation are two essential social motives identified by psychologist David McClelland. These motives influence behavior in various personal and professional contexts, shaping how individuals interact with others and pursue their goals.
Power motivation is characterized by the desire to influence, control, or have an impact on others. It is shaped by an individual's experiences, social environment, and cultural context. People with high power motivation are...
Power motivation is characterized by the desire to influence, control, or have an impact on others. It is shaped by an individual's experiences, social environment, and cultural context. People with high power motivation are...
637
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
19.0K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
19.0K
01:18Incentive Theory: Pull Theory of Motivation
1.2K
Incentive theory, or the "pull theory" of motivation, suggests that external rewards primarily drive behavior. Individuals are motivated to engage in activities when they anticipate a desirable outcome. This is why people often work hard for promotions or study intensively to achieve high grades. These incentives can be tangible, physical rewards such as money or promotions, or intangible, non-physical rewards like praise and social recognition.
The theory differentiates between...
The theory differentiates between...
1.2K
01:27Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation
1.5K
Clark Hull's drive-reduction theory, introduced in the 1940s and 1950s and often termed the "push theory" of motivation, provides a framework for understanding how biological and learned drives influence behavior. Hull suggested that motivation originates from the need to alleviate physiological tension caused by unmet biological necessities. The theory proposes that when a basic need, such as hunger or sleep, goes unfulfilled, it creates an internal imbalance. This imbalance, or...
1.5K
01:25Motivational Bias
460
Cognitive bias results from limitations in thinking and information processing, leading to systematic errors in judgment. Conversely, motivational bias stems from personal desires or emotions, causing distortions in perception to align with self-interest. Motivational bias influences how individuals perceive and attribute causes to events, often shaped by personal needs, goals, and self-esteem preservation. This bias can distort judgment, leading to inaccurate assessments of success, failure,...
460
01:20Motivational Cycle
1.4K
The motivational cycle is a key concept that explains how individuals are motivated to meet their needs. At its core, the cycle revolves around four distinct stages: need, drive, goal-directed behavior, and goal achievement. These stages respond to imbalances in the body or mind, prompting actions that restore balance.
The cycle begins with a need. This need can arise from various conditions, such as hunger, thirst, or temperature changes. For instance, when an individual feels cold, their body...
The cycle begins with a need. This need can arise from various conditions, such as hunger, thirst, or temperature changes. For instance, when an individual feels cold, their body...
1.4K